ADL says Abbas comment ‘reminiscent of’ anti-Semitic tropes

The Anti-Defamation League condemns Abbas for falsely claiming Israeli rabbis had urged the poisoning of Palestinian water sources. Such comments make Abbas’s peace proclamations “disingenuous,” the watchdog says.

“President Abbas reportedly came to Europe to talk peace. Instead, he interspersed claims of an interest in reconciliation with Israel with base allegations against the Jewish state, which are reminiscent of age-old anti-Semitic stereotypes. Unfortunately, conspiratorial incitement by the Palestinian Authority is not new. His charges of an Israeli effort to poison Palestinian water, and claims of Israel serving as the root of terrorism worldwide, are particularly disturbing and significant,” says Jonathan A. Greenblatt, the ADL CEO in a statement.

President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas addresses the media at the European Union Commission headquarters in Brussels on June 22, 2016. (AFP PHOTO / THIERRY CHARLIER)
President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas addresses the media at the European Union Commission headquarters in Brussels on June 22, 2016. (AFP PHOTO / THIERRY CHARLIER)

“We note that President Abbas’ speech was met with a standing ovation by the parliamentarians present. As the international community, particularly European leadership, grows increasingly active in trying to promote an Israeli-Palestinian agreement, they must forcefully and publicly reject such offensive and dangerous incitement. How can Israel see Europe as an honest broker when its elected officials applaud a speech laden with lies and mischaracterizations?”

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